Mortality during In-Hospital Treatment for Head and Neck Cancer in Germany: A Diagnosis-Related Group-Based Nationwide Analysis, 2005-2018

Isabel Hermanns; Mussab Kouka; Peter Schlattmann; Orlando Guntinas-Lichius

doi:10.1155/2022/1387860

Mortality during In-Hospital Treatment for Head and Neck Cancer in Germany: A Diagnosis-Related Group-Based Nationwide Analysis, 2005-2018

J Oncol. 2022 Sep 17:2022:1387860. doi: 10.1155/2022/1387860. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Isabel Hermanns¹, Mussab Kouka¹, Peter Schlattmann², Orlando Guntinas-Lichius¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
² Department of Medical Statistics, Computer Sciences and Data Sciences, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.

Abstract

Background: Data on in-hospital MR (IHMR) of head and neck cancer (HNC) are sparse.

Methods: IHMR was determined in Germany between 2005 and 2018 using nationwide population-based diagnosis-related group (DRG) data of 1,090,596 HNC.

Results: The overall average IHMR was 0.04 ± 0.02. IHMR increased with older age to 0.04 ± 0.01 for patients of 65-79 years of age (relative risk [RR] in relation to patients of 35-49 years of age = 1.767; 95%confidence interval [CI] = 1.040 to3.001) to a maximum of 0.07 ± 0.01 for patients of 80 years and older (RR = 2.826; CI = 1.663 to 4.803). IHMR was the highest when no HNC-specific treatment, i.e., best supportive and palliative care, was applied (0.11 ± 0.01; RR in relation to tumor biopsy surgery = 7.241; CI = 3.447 to 5.211). IHMR was not different between surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy/biologicals.

Conclusions: IHMR did not change over time. Efforts are needed to decrease the IHMR for HNC.